Leo A. Meyer

Leo A. Meyer Mar. 22, 1922 - Oct. 29, 2010 Resident of Hayward Leo Meyer-sheet metal worker, educator, consultant, author, and publisher-passed away peacefully at his long-time home in Hayward with family at his side. Leo was born in New England, North Dakota, and moved to San Leandro as a young boy. He later moved to Bakersfield, and in 1939 became a sheet metal apprentice there. When World War II started, he joined the Navy as a Metalsmith, serving as a Seabee in New Guinea and other areas in the Pacific. After the war, he taught apprenticeship classes for 14 years, and also taught daytime vocational sheet metal and machine shop in Bakersfield High School and then at Bakersfield College. While working in the trade, he earned his degree in Vocational Education from California State University Fresno. During this time, his writing ability became evident. He wrote for Snips and other trade magazines, and wrote apprentice material for the State of California. He also wrote books published by McGraw Hill and American Technical Publishers. His book Sheet Metal has been a staple in the industry for over 50 years, and Leo revised it through several editions. Because of his skill as a teacher, he was asked to conduct teacher training courses for the University of California Berkeley and for Ohio State University. In 1963 he became Dean of Vocational Education at Chabot College in Hayward. He left in 1970 to start his own writing and consulting business. He began a 30-year relationship with the National Training Fund (NTF, later renamed ITI) for the national sheet metal union and the contractors association. He wrote and produced the sheet metal apprentice training books and many books for specialized training in the industry. He also consulted for 15 other businesses and educational institutions. Leo formed the company Leo A. Meyer Associates to do the technical writing, typesetting, and book preparation for the writing he did under contract with NTF, ITI, Roofers Union, and other organizations. When Leo decided to cut back on the traveling required for his contract writing, he dedicated his time to writing and publishing his own books. Leo A. Meyer Associates became LAMA Books, which publishes books Leo has written and also is an on-line bookstore for the trade. Leo wrote some 63 books and manuals and was actively writing until his health declined a few months before his passing. Leo built a beautiful koi pond and landscaped his garden in the Japanese style, and he took great pleasure in pruning and planning to keep his garden a serene retreat. He was also a talented artist in metal and wood and has created some of the art that graces his home and garden. Leo was an avid reader especially of history and enjoyed listening to classical music. His friends and family knew him as a kind, generous, and loving man with a quick sense of humor. He will be greatly missed. Leo loved animals. One or two black Labradors were always at his side and no bird went hungry in his yard. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to home2cats (www.home2cats.org)-a non-profit run by his daughter Barbara dedicated to the rescue and care of injured, disabled, or abused cats and dogs-or to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.